Suicides - United States, 2005-2009

Injury from self-directed violence, which includes suicidal behavior and its consequences, is a leading cause of death and disability. In 2009, suicide was the 10th-leading cause of death in the United States and the cause of 36,909 deaths. In 2005, the estimated cost of self-directed violence (fatal and nonfatal treated) was $41.2 billion (including $38.9 billion in productivity losses and $2.2 billion in medical costs). Suicide is a complex human behavior that results from an interaction of multiple biological, psychological, social, political, and economic factors. Although self-directed violence affects members of all racial/ethnic groups in the United States, it often is misperceived to be a problem affecting primarily non-Hispanic white males.